Chinese tourists pine for Taiwan's return as Beijing jets surround island

Pingtan, China (AFP) April 2, 2025

Chinese tourists visiting the country's closest point to Taiwan wished for the democratic island's return to Beijing's rule, as their leadership called its president a "parasite" and unleashed ships and jets in drills to encircle it. On a sunny Wednesday at a scenic park in Pingtan - just 130 kilometres (80 miles) from Taiwan - a steady stream of tourists wearing sunglasses and brandishing